|
|---|
|
394. Lord Chief Justice Wray to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, August 2. |
The business of the Circuit. Finds Bucks, Beds., Cambs., and Hunts in reasonable good order. In Suffolk and Norfolk a multitude of suits and great disorder for religion. Divers gentlemen, gentlewomen, ministers, and others are presented for not coming to church, breaking order in baptism, varying in all points from the Book of Common Prayer; teaching the Lord's Supper ought not to be at a breakfast as the mass was; one desperate fellow affirming there be divers Christs. There be divers obstinate Papists, but the most of them wilful and undiscreet precisians. Talked with the Bishop of Norwich herein. He findeth many of them, and some of worship, and cannot by any gentle means persuade them. The censures of the Church by excommunication and his ordinary jurisdiction they make no account of. A draft commission remains with Dister, the deputy clerk of the Crown. There is no county in England so far out of order as these two, and no way to help it but by commission ecclesiastical to the Bishop and others. Begs Burghley to move the Queen thereto. Mentions Sir Christopher Heydon and Lord Leicester to whom he has written.—Norwich, this 2nd of August 1576. |
|
P.S.—The last day of the assizes the Bishop sent one who takes upon him to preach and minister in the churches after his own device, being no minister, affirming he hath warrant by God's word so to do. The bishop having no ways to correct him but by excommunication, the
Lord Chief Justice committed him to ward in open assizes, and means to deal further with him as he may by law. |
|
Endorsed :—“The Lord Chief Justice to my Lord,” &c. |
|
1 p.
|
|
395. John Jenkins to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 4. |
In consequence of the default made by certain collectors, against whom proceedings have been taken, it is doubtful whether the sum of 3,000l. apportioned to Berwick can be answered for the first half year at the times expected. Nevertheless he has done and will do his best to satisfy his lordship's expectations.—York, 4 Aug. 1576. |
|
1 p.
|
|
396. Benjamin Gonson and Wm. Holstock to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 4. |
A letter of recommendation for the bearer Thomas Buck of Southampton, who formerly served as a sea captain. |
|
1 p.
|
|
397. The Bishop of Winchester to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, August 5. |
Reports his visitation of certain colleges at Oxford. At New College he found such disorders and factions that he expelled four chieftains of one faction, the residue he chastised with milder correction. The ringleaders devised to withstand, gainsay and utterly refuse his jurisdiction, and threatened to complain of him at Court, where he hopes disobedience to magistrates will find no succour. Refers himself to the report of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Lowgher and Dr. Renold, who were witnesses of his doings. Will willingly render an account of his upright dealing before such as can skill of University matters, and of the statutes of Colleges. Begs that he may be heard before being condemned.—Lillingston Dairell, 5 August 1576. |
|
1 p.
|
|
398. William Herle to Mr. Chester. |
|
1576, Aug. 7. |
Thanks him for his long and friendly letter and commends his zealous loyalty both to his sovereign here and to the country and his friends there. Has shown his letter to the Lord Treasurer who has written an answer at large with his own hand, which (he guesses) contains such matter that Chester may do the Prince and the whole country great service if they follow the advice he is thereby directed to give, which, if they contemn it, the remedy of any good is past and their general ruin is at hand. “For her Majesty is so moved with these insolent delinges of the Prynce and his Zellanders as none dare move her to ani consideratyon towards theme, butt all is sett uppon revenge of their lewd acts and worse speche, and to extermyne them owtt of the world rather than to endure it any longer. And where the Prynce pretends ayd owtt of Frawnce, he dawnceth in a nett if he se not that her Majesty knowes the contrary, and that herin he is grettly abused or seketh to abuse others, with small credit to hymselfe and less assurans to his estate when this maske is taken away.” Let him be assured that the French King and the Spanish King are rather both secretly linked to set upon and to overthrow both him and his with all the means and powers they can make, if they were once a little settled in France. |
|
To remedy all this there is but one way, that is if the Prince will excuse to her Majesty the foul acts and spoils that have been committed by the Zealanders, on the plea of necessity, undertaking that the like shall not be committed again; which course being once taken the Prince's friends here that favour the cause will join together to qualify her Majesty's just displeasure, and no doubt something may be done by this means to reconcile the Prince again and to help him underhand; but to say that her Majesty will be constrained to do anything maugre her will were great absurdity. |
|
And whereas they object that it is a general cause and common with her Majesty that they maintain, both for religion and surety of her estate with theirs (whilst they violate both religion, justice, and all surety), and that therefore she must assist them of very necessity, they are greatly deceived herein for her Majesty hath no need to enter into unnecessary wars for them or for others unprovoked; nor is a prince of her greatness and quality to be compelled by these arguments of necessity; for such as she is will hazard all rather than to be prescribed or forced by her inferiors or equals or by any other. Begs him to confer thoroughly with Mons. Paul Buys on this subject in order that by their joint means the Prince may be induced to open the eyes of his reason and to behold things as they really are. Assures him that if the conciliatory course suggested be adopted, somewhat (yea some round portion) will be voluntarily given to the assistance of the cause and to aid both Zealand and Holland, especially the latter to which country her Majesty and all her Council are greatly inclined. As for Mons. Buys his credit is such with the Queen, the Lord Treasurer, my Lord of Leicester and the rest that he may be assured of any good turn that he may desire here, either for himself or for his friends which he has her Majesty's special command to declare unto him as also the like to the Count of Cullingburgh. |
|
If he can do any good in this it will be the best service that he and Mons. Buys could do for that country for their discretion and endeavour should win that which is now well nigh desperate unless good dexterity be used. Herein also they must have a regard to unite Zealand and Holland that the Prince's authority may rule them both to the good of the common cause and of either country, for otherwise their separation is an apparent overthrow of both and a distrust to others.—London, 7 August 1576. |
|
Endorsed: “The copy of mi lettre sent to Mr. Edw. Chester in August 1576, and somewhatt to the effect and substance I wrytt then ij other several lettres to the Prynce of Orenge, and to Powll Buis.” |
|
6½ pp. [Murdin, pp. 296–299. In extenso.] |
|
399. Richard Cooke to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 7. |
Thanking him for past favours. |
|
1 p.
|
|
400. The Assessors of the Subsidy at Greenwich to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 7. |
Begging him to rectify an overcharge made in their assessment on Thomas Bell, one of her Majesty's grooms of the stable. |
|
1 p.
|
|
401. Sir Francis Knollys to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 9. |
Pointing out the dilatory nature of Lord Paget's proceeding with respect to certain works at Istleworth Mills. |
|
1 p.
|
|
402. Thos. Fanshaw to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 10. |
Asks Burghley's pleasure touching Bird's debts. Sends the yearly profits answered in Bird's office, also those of Ipswich and Southampton. Has not sent Bird's accounts because they are cumbersome. Being at Mercers' Chapel about the tender of the 200l., Bird made earnest request for more liberty of imprisonment within the Fleet, and for licence for his wife to come to him. He spake not without need.—Warwick Lane, 10 Aug. 1576. |
|
Endorsed. |
|
1½ pp.
|
|
403. Sir Thomas Gargrave to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 14. |
The collectors of the Queen's revenue are behind with their collections. Mr. Receiver cannot perform the first half year's pay appointed for Berwick, but says he will pay all except 400 before the end of the month. But he cannot, unless Burghley will write to the Auditor to look at the books thoroughly, so as to set down certainly what sum yearly every collector shall be bound to pay.—York, 14 August 1576. |
|
Endorsed. |
|
1 p.
|
|
404. The Privy Council to the Earl of Lincoln. |
|
1576, Aug. 24. |
Praying him to appoint two of her Majesty's ships for the safe conduct of the Merchants Adventurers to Hamburg. |
|
Although the Merchants have consented to bear the charge of the victualling and wages he is to let it appear that the whole charges are borne by her Majesty. |
|
1 p. [Murdin, p. 300. In extenso.] |
|
405. J. Asteley to Lord Burghley. |
|
1576, Aug. 31. |
Renewing a suit previously made by him to Lord Burghley on behalf of John Dod and Robert Sowthern, two of the keepers of the park at Enfield. |
|
1 p.
|
